Dust roller brush device for mobile robotic vacuum cleaner

ABSTRACT

Used in a mobile robotic vacuum cleaner, a detachable roller brush device is disclosed to include a mounting device, and a roller brush having one end thereof detachably connectable to the driving shaft of the driving device and an opposite end thereof rotatably and detachably connectable to the mounting device. Thus, when released the connection between the roller brush and the mounting device, the roller brush can easily be removed from the mobile robotic vacuum cleaner for repair or replacement

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to mobile robotic vacuum cleaner technology and more specifically, to a detachable roller brush device for mobile robotic vacuum cleaner.

2. Description of the Related Art

A mobile robotic vacuum cleaner is an automatic vacuum cleaner able to navigate a living space safely around unforeseen obstacles while cleaning the floor subject to rotation of roller brushes and operation of an electrical fan. For the advantage of automatic vacuuming without assistant of any person around, mobile robotic vacuum cleaner is highly invited by people to substitute for conventional labor-operated vacuum cleaners or other cleaning tools.

Although a mobile robotic vacuum cleaner brings convenience to home life, the roller brushes of a mobile robotic vacuum cleaner may wear after a long use. Because the roller brushes of conventional mobile robotic vacuum cleaners are not detachable, only a well-trained maintenance person can detach the failed mobile robotic vacuum cleaner to repair or replace the damaged roller brush or brushes. The repair procedure is complicated and expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a detachable roller brush device for mobile robotic vacuum cleaner, which is easily detachable from the mobile robotic vacuum cleaner for repair.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a detachable roller brush device is used in a mobile robotic vacuum cleaner having a driving device with a driving shaft, comprising a mounting device and a roller brush. The roller brush has one end thereof detachably connectable to the driving shaft of the driving device and an opposite end thereof rotatably and detachably connectable to the mounting device. Thus, when released the connection between the roller brush and the mounting device, the roller brush can easily be removed from the mobile robotic vacuum cleaner for repair or replacement.

Preferably, the mounting device comprises a casing, a movable block movably mounted inside the casing and stopped against one end of the roller brush, a spring member having two distal ends respectively stopped against the casing and the movable block and a stop block mounted inside the casing and movable between a stop position. The stop block has a stop portion. The top portion stops the movable block in position when the stop block is in the stop position. The stop portion is released from the movable block for allowing movement of the movable block relative to the casing when the stop block is in the released position.

Preferably, the mounting device further comprises a barrel mounted inside the casing and adapted for accommodating the movable block. The barrel comprises a through hole for the passing of the stop portion of the stop block to stop the movable block in position when the stop block is in the stop position. The stop portion of the stop block is disengaged from the through hole when the stop block is in the released position.

Preferably, the barrel comprises a sliding slot located on the peripheral wall thereof and extending along the axis thereof. The movable block is accommodated in the barrel, comprising a sliding rib inserted into the sliding slot to guide sliding movement of the movable block relative to the barrel.

Preferably, the detachable roller brush device further comprises a second spring member having two distal ends thereof respectively stopped against the stop block and the casing to impart a spring force to the stop block and to hold the stop block in the stop position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of mobile robotic vacuum cleaner equipped with a detachable roller brush device in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the mobile robotic vacuum cleaner shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view illustrating two roller brush devices coupled to a driving device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the assembly shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of the present invention illustrating the coupling arrangement between the roller brush device and the respective driving shaft of the driving device.

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of the present invention illustrating the stop block in the stop position.

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating the roller brush device disengaged from the respective driving shaft of the driving device.

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 6 but illustrating the stop block in the released position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a detachable roller brush device 20 in accordance with the present invention is to be used in a mobile robotic vacuum cleaner 10 has a driving device 12 mounted therein. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the driving device 12 comprises two driving shafts 14 that have a rectangular cross section. Two detachable roller brush devices 20 are respectively and detachably coupled to the two driving shafts 14 of the driving device 12 mobile robotic vacuum cleaner 10 are shown installed in a mobile robotic vacuum cleaner 10 is shown comprising a driving device 12 in accordance with the present invention is shown used in 30 and a chips collection box 40. Because the two detachable roller brush devices 20 are arranged in a mirror image manner, only the structure of one detachable roller brush device 20 is explained below. Any person skilled in the art will fully understand the structure, operation and characteristics of the detachable roller brush devices 20 subject to the following explanation.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, each detachable roller brush device 20 comprises a mounting device 30 and a roller brush 40.

The mounting device 30 is installed in the bottom side of the mobile robotic vacuum cleaner 10, comprising a casing 31, a barrel 32, a movable block 33, a first spring member 34, a stop block 35 and a second spring member 36.

The casing 31 consists of a top cover shell 312 and a bottom cover shell 314. The bottom cover shell 314 has an opening 316.

The barrel 32 is mounted inside the casing 31, comprising two longitudinal sliding slots 322 cut through the peripheral wall thereof at two opposite sides and extending in the axial direction and a rectangular through hole 324 cut through the peripheral wall.

The movable block 33 is accommodated in the barrel 32, comprising two sliding ribs 332 respectively slidably inserted into the longitudinal sliding slots 322 of the barrel 32 to guide sliding movement of the movable block 33 relative to the barrel 32.

The first spring member 34 has its two opposite ends respectively stopped against one long side of the bottom cover shell 314 and one end wall of the movable block 33.

The stop block 35 is mounted in the casing 31 and movable between a stop position P1 and a released position P2, comprising a stop portion 352 having a rectangular cross section. When the stop block 35 is in the stop position P1 shown in FIG. 6, the stop portion 352 of the stop block 35 is inserted through the rectangular through hole 324 of the barrel 32 to stop the movable block 33 in position, as shown in FIG. 5. When the stop block 35 is in the released position P2 shown in FIG. 8, the stop portion 352 of the stop block 35 is disengaged from the rectangular through hole 324 of the barrel 32, allowing movement of the movable block 33 by an external force, as shown in FIG. 7. Further, the stop block 35 comprises a protruding portion 354 protruded from the bottom wall thereof. The protruding portion 354 extends out of the casing 31 through the opening 316 for receiving an external force to move the stop block 35 from the stop position P1 to the released position P2.

The second spring member 36 has its two opposite ends respectively stopped against one short side of the bottom cover shell 314 and the stop block 35 to impart a spring force to the stop block 35, holding the stop block 35 in the stop position P1.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, the roller brush 40 is rotatably mounted in a bottom groove 16 of the mobile robotic vacuum cleaner 10, having a rectangular plughole 42 located on its one end and fastened to one driving shaft 14 of the driving device 12 so that the roller brush 40 is rotatable by the driving device 12. The other end of the roller brush 40 is stopped at one end of the movable block 33 against the spring force of the first spring member 34.

After description of the structural details of the detachable roller brush device 20, the dismounting operation of the detachable roller brush device 20 is explained hereinafter.

When detaching the detachable roller brush device 20 from the mobile robotic vacuum cleaner 10, operate the protruding portion 354 of the stop block 35 to move the stop block 35 from the stop position P1 shown in FIG. 6 to the released position P2 shown in FIG. 8, and then apply a pressure to the roller brush 40 to move the roller brush 40 toward the movable block 33 and to simultaneously compress the first spring member 34, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, until that the rectangular plughole 42 of the roller brush 40 is disengaged from the associating driving shaft 14 of the driving device 12. At this time, the user can remove the roller brush 40 from the bottom groove 16 of the mobile robotic vacuum cleaner 10 for a repair work.

After the repair work is done, the roller brush 40 can be installed in the mobile robotic vacuum cleaner 10 again. When re-installing the roller brush 40, operate the protruding portion 354 of the stop block 35 to move the stop block 35 from the stop position P1 shown in FIG. 6 to the released position P2 shown in FIG. 8, and then insert one end of the roller brush 40 into the bottom groove 16 of the mobile robotic vacuum cleaner 10, and then push the movable block 33 toward the inside for enabling the whole roller brush 40 to be received in the bottom groove 16 and the rectangular plughole 42 of the roller brush 40 to be forced into engagement with the associating driving shaft 14 of the driving device 12, as shown in FIG. 7. Thereafter, release the pressure from the movable block 33 to let the movable block 33 be forced by the first spring member 34 against the roller brush 40, keeping the rectangular plughole 42 of the roller brush 40 in positive engagement with the associating driving shaft 14 of the driving device 12, as shown in FIG. 5. At final, release the pressure from the stop block 35, enabling the stop block 35 to be returned by the spring force of the second spring member 36 from the released position P2 shown in FIG. 8 to the stop position P1 shown in FIG. 6, finishing the re-installation of the roller brush 40.

In conclusion, the detachable roller brush device comprises a mounting device and a roller brush. When the roller brush wears after a long use, the user can detach the roller brush for repair or replacement conveniently. Therefore, the invention facilitates maintenance and provides excellent cleaning effect.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

1. A detachable roller brush device used in a mobile robotic vacuum cleaner comprising a driving device having a driving shaft, the detachable roller brush device comprising: a mounting device; and a roller brush having one end thereof detachably connectable to said driving shaft of said driving device and an opposite end thereof rotatably and detachably connectable to said mounting device.
 2. The detachable roller brush device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said roller brush comprises a rectangular plughole located on one end thereof and detachably coupled to said driving shaft of said driving device.
 3. The detachable roller brush device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mounting device comprises a casing, a movable block movably mounted inside said casing and stopped against one end of said roller brush, a spring member having two distal ends respectively stopped against said casing and said movable block and a stop block mounted inside said casing and movable between a stop position and a released position, said stop block having a stop portion, said stop portion stopping said movable block in position when said stop block is in said stop position, said stop portion being released from said movable block for allowing movement of said movable block relative to said casing when said stop block is in said released position.
 4. The detachable roller brush device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said casing has an opening located on a bottom wall thereof; said stop block comprises a protruding portion extending to the outside of said casing through said opening for operation by an external force to move said stop block from said stop position to said released position.
 5. The detachable roller brush device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said mounting device further comprises a barrel mounted inside said casing and adapted for accommodating said movable block, said barrel comprising a through hole for the passing of said stop portion of said stop block to stop said movable block in position when said stop block is in said stop position, said stop portion of said stop block being disengaged from said through hole when said stop block is in said released position.
 6. The detachable roller brush device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said stop portion of said stop block has a rectangular cross section; said through hole of said barrel has a rectangular cross section fitting the rectangular cross section of said stop portion of said stop block.
 7. The detachable roller brush device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said mounting device further comprises a barrel mounted inside said casing, said barrel comprising a sliding slot located on the peripheral wall thereof and extending along the axis thereof; said movable block is accommodated in said barrel, comprising a sliding rib inserted into said sliding slot to guide sliding movement of said movable block relative to said barrel.
 8. The detachable roller brush device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a second spring member, said second spring member having two distal ends thereof respectively stopped against said stop block and said casing to impart a spring force to said stop block and to hold said stop block in said stop position. 